Artificial limb



L- G. CARON ARTIFICIAL LIMB June 2O7 1933.

2 Shees. sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1931 June 20, 1933. Y L. G. CARON 1,914,832

ARTIFIC IAL LIMB Filed Sept. 5., 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 2G, 1933 UNTED STATES ARTIFICIAL Lrivns Application filed September 5, 1931.

This invention relates to an improvement in artificial limbs.

The object of my invention is to improve the knee control mechanism and the manner of connecting the shin and thigh sections of an artificial limb together, through a knee joint which provides greater bearing surface and thus increases the comfort to the wearer, while at the same time insuring a perfect joint between the sections that will not come apart even if the knee bolt should become disconnected, as a double pivoted connection is provided between the shin and thigh sections, so that either pivot will eectively hold the parts together.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view through portions of the leg and thigh sections, showing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, somewhat enlarged;

F ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view of a portion of the knee joint.

The artificial limb shown in the drawings comprises a shin section 1 and a thigh section 2, both of which are preferably constructed of metal7 such as aluminum, to decrease the weight while yet preserving the necessary rigidity and strength.

The shin section 1 carries a back check in the form of a base 3 rigidly fixed to the shin section and having' upstanding ears 4 on opposite sides thereof, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined arm 5 which is shown as cast integral with the base 3 and the ears 4, the whole being preferably cast of light, strong metal, such as aluminum.

A knee bolt 6 extends through the ears 4 from side to side of the shin section 1 and is threaded as at 7 through one of the ears 4 in order to hold it in fixed relation thereto, while a screw 8 extends into the opposite end of the knee bolt 6 to hold the same to the other ear 4.

The thigh section 2 has a reinforcing frame 9 fitted in the lower end thereof in order to brace and reinforce this lower end. This Serial No. 561,432.

thigh section 2 and the frame 9 are provided with a slot 10 in the back side thereof, through which the arm 5 extends into the thigh section.

A sleeve 11 extends transversely of the thigh sect-ion about the knee bolt 6, and has flanged ends 12 which secure this sleeve to the opposite sides of the thigh section 2 and the frame 9. Perforations 13 are formed in the periphery of the sleeve 11 approximately 6' throughout the length thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The sleeve 11 is spaced slightly from the knee bolt 6, being larger in diameter than such knee bolt but co-incident therewith, and a tubular packing 14 is interposed between the knee bolt 6 and the sleeve 11, which packing may be of any suitable material, but leather has been found satisfactory for the purpose.

The packing sleeve 14 may be inserted into the sleeve 11 before insertion of the knee bolt 6, and by means of a mandrel, the packing may be swelled slightly to fill the perforations 13 in order to edectively hold the packing sleeve in place and against any tendency to turn. This will therefore permit the knee bolt 6 to turn within the packing sleeve 14 since the knee bolt is rigidly fixed to the ears 4 and to the shin section 1.

The arm 5 is provided with an arcuate portion 15 which tit-s around the sleeve 11, and cooperating therewith is a clamp 16 fixed to the arm 5 in order to form a bearing for the arm upon the external lsurface of the sleeve 11, and packing material 15a may be interposed between the arcuate portion 15 and the clamp 16 and sleeve 11. The extreme end of the arm 5 has links 17 pivotally connected therewith which carry a pulley 18, beneath which the usual suspender strap 19 extends.

The lower end of the frame 9 is enlarged as at 2O and has a socket 21 formed therein, into which a portion of a buffer pad 22 extends in position to be engaged by the arm 5 to limit the swinging movement thereof in one direction.

TheV device operates and functions in a manner well known for this type of artificial limbs, being manipulated by the suspender strap 19. The double bearing surface provided between the shin and thigh sections is a substantial improvement in the manner of connecting these sections together, by providing a greater bearing arca therebetween and with a double bearing so that if one of the bearing devices becomes disconnected or re.- moved, the other one holds the thigh and shin sections together for pivotal movement and for further operation.

In this form of knee oint, the knee bolt 6 and the arm 5 are both rigidly connected with the shin section 1, and carried thereby, but have bearing engagement respectively on inside and outside of the sleeve l1 which is fixed to the thigh section 2, which thus forms the double bearing with greater bearing snrface between the thigh and shin sections.

I claim:

1. In an artificial limb, the combination of shin and thigh sections adapted to be pivotally connected together, a rigid member fixed to the thigh section and extending transversely thereof, an operating member rigidly fixed to the shin section and extendupwardly in the thigh section and having a concave portion partly embracing the rigid member, and a clamp detachably secured to the operating member and extending around the other side of the rigid member from the concave portion and cooperating therewith to provide a pivotal connection for the operating member on said rigid member.

2. In an artificial limb, the combination of shin and thigh sections adapted to be pivotally connected together, a rigid sleeve fixed to the thigh section and extending transversely thereof, an inner flexible sleeve disa bearing for the member on the rigid sleeve, said structure providing double bearings.

1I. In an artificial limb, a shin section, and an assembly fitted to said shin section comprising a base member fitting and rigidly fixed to the shin section and having integral upstanding arms on op osite sides thereof adapted to carry a kneeaolt for a thigh section, and having an integra-l operating member extending upwardly from the upper side of said base member and having a bearing surface adapted to receive a bearing member and thereby forming a bearing between the shin and thigh sections.

5. In an artificial limb, the combination of thigh and shin sections, the thigh section having a longitudinal slot in its lower portion and provided with a transverse member located inside with it-s ends permanently secured to the opposite walls of the thigh sec- A tion, the shin section having a. base provided with integral arms, one arm extending through the slot of the thigh section and partially surrounding the transverse member,

means detachably secured to said last-mentioned arm and extending around the other side of the transverse member and cooperating with the portion extending partly therearound for pivotally securing said last-mentioned arm to the transverse member, the

LOUIS G. CARON.

posed within said rigid sleeve, an operating member rigidly fixed to the shin section and extending upwardly and forwardly in the thigh section and having a concave portion partly embracing the rigid sleeve, a clamp detachably secured to the operating member and extending around the other side of the sleeve from the concave portion and cooperating therewith to provide a pivotal connection for the operating member on said rigid sleeve, and a knee bolt fixed to the shin section and extending through the flexible sleeve for pivotally connecting the shin and thigh sections together.

3. In an artificial limb, the combination of shin and thigh sections adapted to be pivotally connected together, a rigid sleeve fixed to the thigh section and extending transversely thereof, a knee bolt fixed to the shin section and extending through the sleeve and pivotally connecting the shin and'thigh sections together, a member fixed to the shin section and having a concave portion receiving the sleeve, and a clamp detachably secured to the member and extending around the other :side of the sleeve from the concave portion and cooperating therewith to form 

